Page 49 of Dangerous Devotion

With a sharp jerk of his hand, AJ dragged his fingers through his hair. “You knew Simpson was at the base. Of course you knew. I wish you’d shared that information with me.”

“Why? You don’t know him.”

“No, but May does.”

“Shit.”

“Yeah. We also ran into the guy at the fucking gala.”

“Oh fuck.”

“May’s well acquainted with him, it seems. We talked to Kit earlier, and she fixed things to make it look like the invitation to do the training was extended to May’s father, but she came in his stead.”

She gave her head a small shake. “You make it sound like he knows about the bomb, AJ. You don’t know Simpson. The man has served for thirty years. He’s decorated. He isn’t harboring a bomb!”

“He’s also lying to your face,” AJ shot out.

“He probably has no idea the bomb is on that base.”

“So why did he give us a thorough tour of everything except that hangar?”

“Because he had a meeting!”

“Or he’s blocking us.”

They glared each other down. They stood on opposite sides of a canyon with her believing her old family friend was innocent and unknowing, while AJ believed Simpson was concealing that bomb.

“AJ’s right,” Con interjected.

She jerked her scowl away from her partner’s.

Con continued, “If he’s clean and he knows about the bomb, he’d be helping us.”

“I’ve known Simpson for so many years. My family trusts the man.” She folded her arms in an unspoken show of solidarity. Confirmation that she trusted him too.

AJ couldn’t miss her stiff pose if he tried. “The man was wearing a Rolex.”

“Maybe it was a gift!”

He breathed heavily through his nose. “This isn’t about trust, May. It’s about getting into that hangar—fast.”

“I’ll get us in.”

“How? You gonna ask real nice?”

“Maybe by trusting people instead of treating them all like threats? Like I did with the kid.”

“Who is the kid?” The bark of command in Con’s voice silenced her and AJ’s argument.

“There’s more.” AJ’s lips were tight. “The driver of the transport that brought the explosive to the fort talked to May in a convenience store during one of our stops. He was also in that training with her.”

“He recognized you. Damn, this op is just digging us deeper into a trench we might not be able to crawl out of.”

“I’ll get into that hangar.” AJ nodded to the travel pouch filled with components to create a homemade detonator.

“I’m pretty sureI’mthe one who has the clout to get into the hangar,” May announced. “I can talk to Simpson—”

“Your blind faith is going to get us killed. I saw you in that training—you’re smart as hell. So why can’t you see what’s right in front of your face? It’s common sense!”

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